September 12, 2026
Silent Sunday: Morning Glory
Tag Archives: OM 12-200mm
Juvenile Carolina Anole, Explorer, 2
Another young Carolina Anole displayed his hunting skills this morning among the Moonflower vines.
September 12, 2026
Young Red-bellied Woodpecker
I spotted the Red-bellied Woodpecker because he was making his distinctive call over and over, as if he was calling mamma to feed him.
His paler colors and overall look give him away as a younger bird. He’s been visiting our backyard feeder on his own for a few weeks after being shown the way by an adult.
September 12, 2026
Moonflower, 2
My backyard moonflowers have been blooming for over a month with ten or twelve flowers opening every evening. It’s been an exceptional gift from one seed!
This flower was a rarity in the group, opening all the way around, with no drooping of the petals. At least in this moment.
August 28, 2026
Morning Glory, 1
Colorful Morning Glories was what I really was looking forward to on our new arbor. The white Moonflowers have stolen the show in both number and size, but there have been a few lovely Morning Glory blooms.
A recent overnight rain left some well placed drops.
August 22, 2026
Juvenile Carolina Anole, Explorer
I didn’t spot this newly hatched Anole until he moved from the brown to the yellow section of the dying moonflower leaf.
A little unsure of himself he flipped around…
… then jumped to another leaf where he gave me a few seconds of portrait images.
Looking around and exploring his new world.
August 21, 2026
Moonflowers, Isolated with Raindrops
The Moonflower blossoms are quite sturdy while they are open and the petals hold up even after a rain.
As they go by the petals curl inward in a variety of patterns.
This one is my recent favorite.
Many of the blooms have smudges on the inside — dirt or who knows what — as they open. We do sometimes see small flies or gnats inside the flowers. And the white shows everything.
August 22, 2026
Silent Sunday: Dried Sunflowers
LimoStudio 24X24 Tabletop Studio Box, White cloth backdrop
Godox iT32 Flash off camera, X5O Trigger
Working With Flash: Sunflower in Milk Bottle
The recent heat inspired me to round up the various still photography and flash doodads we have acquired but rarely use for some indoor photography. Now to figure out which accessories to try and how to use them.
The easiest part was the Godox iT32 Flash/X5O Trigger. It just worked with my OM 1 Mark II with only a little fuss. I have used it before and remembered struggling to get it off the camera when I overtightened the X5 locking ring. So this time I didn’t have it tight enough at first and the communication to the flash unit failed.
Detaching the flash for off-camera use is as simple as the minimal instructions imply: there are no connections to set up for the trigger, it is all automatic. For this shot I placed the flash outside the box, aimed through the left side, which is made of a white nylon material, and placed a yellow filter over the flash unit.
My ironing technique for the backdrop needs improvement.
LimoStudio 24X24 Tabletop Studio Box, White cloth backdrop
Godox iT32 Flash off camera, X5O Trigger, with a yellow filter
Juvenile Downy Woodpecker
This young Downy Woodpecker wanted to land on our birdfeeder but he was having trouble with his approach.
Which way to turn?
The stick is attached to the pole holding the feeder, providing a convenient landing and eating perch.
He made it after a few tries then a bolder Carolina Chickadee chased him off. The Woodpecker was back in just a few minutes to try again.
July 10, 2026